Cassette loading mechanism

Abstract

A cassette loading mechanism comprising a first cassette loading mechanism for drawing a cassette holder with a tape cassette detachably loaded to a position over a cassette loading portion and then positioning the cassette holder down to the cassette loading portion and a second cassette loading mechanism of linear skating type for slidably coupling a slide chassis provided with the cassette loading portion with a fixed chassis provided with a recording/reproducing portion to record or reproduce a recording medium tape of the tape cassette loaded in the cassette loading portion with the slide chassis moved to a retracted position which generally overlaps the fixed chassis. The above-mentioned setup implements a cassette loading mechanism of front-loading type based on a small-sized, light-weight recording/reproducing apparatus of linear skating type.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cassette loading mechanism of a linear skating type comprising: a cassette holder disposed in a horizontal plane for detachably accommodating a tape cassette, said cassette holder being provided on a side thereof with first and second projecting portions;   a cassette holder holding member for holding said cassette holder, said cassette holder holding member being formed on a side thereof with a third projecting portion and a first grooved portion formed of a slit portion and a stopper portion for engagement with said first projecting portion formed on said cassette holder, when said first projecting portion engages said slit portion said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding member are moveably connected with each other for relative movement in a horizontal plane and when said first projecting portion engages said stopper portion said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding member are fixedly connected for preventing relative movement in the horizontal plan;   a fixed chassis having a support wall formed with a second grooved portion for engagement with said first projecting portion of said cassette holder that extends through said first grooved portion formed in said cassette holder holding member, said support wall being further formed with a third grooved portion for engaging said third projecting portion of said cassette holder holding member and extending horizontally and vertically so that said cassette holder holding member is guided for movement in the horizontal plane and in a vertical plane; and   a slide chassis mounted on said fixed chassis, said cassette holder holding member and said slide chassis being horizontally movable relative to said fixed chassis, said slide chassis having a vertically arranged fourth grooved portion for receiving therein said second projecting portion formed on said cassette holder, so that when said third projecting portion of said cassette holder holding member moves along a horizontal portion of said third grooved portion of said support wall said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding members move together with said first projecting portion of said cassette holder engaging said stopper portion of said first grooved portion of said cassette holder holding member, and when said cassette holder holding member moves along a vertical portion of said third grooved portion of said support wall and said second projecting portion of said cassette holder engages said fourth grooved portion of said slide chassis and reaches a bottom end of said fourth grooved portion, said first projecting portion of said cassette holder is disengaged from said stopper portion of said first grooved portion of said cassette holder holding member and said cassette holder is fixedly connected to said slide chassis by said second projecting portion engaging said fourth grooved portion, whereby said cassette holder and said slide chassis move together in a horizontal plane relative to said cassette holder holding member.   
     
     
       2. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 1, wherein when a tape cassette is inserted, said cassette holder holding member first moves horizontally relative to said fixed chassis and then vertically relative to said fixed chassis. 
     
     
       3. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising: a guide pin for drawing out a recording tape from said tape cassette and a rotary drum around which said recording tape is wound;   wherein, when said tape cassette is inserted, said cassette holder holding member moves horizontally and then vertically relative to said fixed chassis and, as said slide chassis moves, said cassette holder is carried by said slide chassis horizontally, causing said guide pin to draw out the recording tape from said cassette and wind said recording tape around said rotary drum.   
     
     
       4. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising: a cassette lid opening member pivotally secured on said cassette holder, said cassette lid opening member being engaged with a lid of said cassette for opening in operative association with a vertical movement of said cassette holder.   
     
     
       5. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said cassette lid opening member has a first projection for engagement with the lid of said cassette, a second projection for engagement with said cassette holder and to provide a pivotal axis, and a third projection for pivotally guiding said cassette lid opening member. 
     
     
       6. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 5, further comprising: an arm member for horizontally and vertically moving said cassette holder, wherein an engaging portion provided on said cassette holder holding member is engaged with said arm member which pivotally moves to move said cassette holder horizontally and vertically.   
     
     
       7. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the engaging portion provided on said cassette holder holding member is formed into a pin for engagement with a guide groove provided on said arm member which is driven. 
     
     
       8. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising: a driving motor for driving said arm member; and   a gear train for transmitting a rotary driving force of said driving motor;   wherein said arm member pivotally moves in operative association with rotation of said driving motor to move said cassette holder horizontally and vertically.   
     
     
       9. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said arm member comprises a pair of arms arranged on both sides of said cassette holder holding member, said pair of arms being linked with a rotary shaft which is driven in synchronization by the rotary driving force transmitted by said driving motor via said gear train. 
     
     
       10. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 9, further comprising: a main chassis mounted on said fixed chassis for supporting said rotary drum and said slide chassis;   wherein said cassette loading mechanism mounted on said main chassis is generally rectangular in shape, said rotary drum and said driving motor being situated on one side of said cassette loading mechanism and said cassette holder holding member on a side opposite to said one side.   
     
     
       11. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 10, further comprising: a slide chassis driving motor for driving said slide chassis, said slide chassis driving motor being situated at a position opposite to said arm member driving motor with said rotary drum in between.   
     
     
       12. A cassette loading mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said cassette loading mechanism is generally cubic in construction, said slide chassis driving motor is provided on said fixed chassis, and said arm member driving motor is provided on an upper portion of a side wall of said cassette holder holding member. 
     
     
       13. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism of a linear skating type, comprising: a rotary drum around which a recording tape recorded with an information signal is wound for signal recording and/or reproduction;   a cassette holder disposed in a horizontal plane for detachably accommodating a tape cassette, said cassette holder being provided on a side thereof with a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion;   a cassette holder holding member for holding said cassette holder, said cassette holder holding member being formed on a side thereof with a third projecting portion and a first grooved portion formed of a slit portion and a stopper portion for engagement with said first projecting portion formed on said cassette holder, when said first projecting portion engages said slit portion said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding member are moveably connected with each other for relative movement in a horizontal plane and when said first projecting portion engages said stopper portion said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding member are fixedly connected for preventing relative movement in the horizontal plane;   a fixed chassis having a support wall formed with a second grooved portion for engagement with said first projecting portion of said cassette holder that extends through said first grooved portion formed in said cassette holder holding member, said support wall being further formed with a third grooved portion for engaging said third projecting portion of said cassette holder holding member and extending horizontally and vertically so that said cassette holder holding member is guided for movement in the horizontal plane and in a vertical plane; and   a slide chassis mounted on said fixed chassis, said cassette holder holding member and said slide chassis being horizontally movable relative to said fixed chassis, said slide chassis having a vertically arranged fourth grooved portion for receiving therein said second projecting portion formed on said cassette holder, so that when said third projecting portion of said cassette holder holding member moves along a horizontal portion of said third grooved portion of said support wall said cassette holder and said cassette holder holding members move together with said first projecting portion of said cassette holder engaging said stopper portion of said first grooved portion of said cassette holder holding member, and when said cassette holder holding member moves along a vertical portion of said third grooved portion of said support wall and said second projecting portion of said cassette holder engages said fourth grooved portion of said slide chassis and reaches a bottom end of said fourth grooved portion, said first projecting portion of said cassette holder is disengaged from said stopper portion of said first grooved portion of said cassette holder holding member and said cassette holder is fixedly connected to said slide chassis by said second projecting portion engaging said fourth grooved portion, whereby said cassette holder and said slide chassis move together in a horizontal plane relative to said cassette holder holding member.   
     
     
       14. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 13, wherein, when a tape cassette is inserted, said cassette holder holding member first moves horizontally relative to said fixed chassis and then vertically relative to said fixed chassis. 
     
     
       15. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 14, further comprising: a guide pin for drawing out a recording tape from said tape cassette wherein said recording tape is wound around said rotary drum;   wherein, when said tape cassette is inserted, said cassette holder holding member moves horizontally and then vertically relative to said fixed chassis and, as said slide chassis moves, said cassette holder is carried by said slide chassis horizontally, causing said guide pin to draw out the recording tape from said cassette and wind said recording tape around said rotary drum.   
     
     
       16. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 15, further comprising: a cassette lid opening member pivotally secured on said cassette holder, said cassette lid opening member being engaged with a lid of said cassette that opens in operative association with a vertical movement of said cassette holder.   
     
     
       17. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said cassette lid opening member has a first projection for engagement with the lid of said cassette, a second projection for engagement with said cassette holder and providing a pivotal axis, and a third projection for pivotally guiding said cassette lid opening member. 
     
     
       18. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 17, further comprising: an arm member for horizontally and vertically moving said cassette holder, wherein an engaging portion provided on said cassette holder holding member is engaged with said arm member which pivotally moves to move said cassette holder horizontally and vertically.   
     
     
       19. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the engaging portion provided on said cassette holder holding member is formed into a pin for engagement with a guide groove provided on said arm member which is driven. 
     
     
       20. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 19, further comprising: a driving motor for driving said arm member; and   a gear train for transmitting a rotary driving force of said driving motor;   wherein said arm member pivotally moves in operative association with rotation of said driving motor to move said cassette holder horizontally and vertically.   
     
     
       21. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 20, wherein said arm member comprises a pair of arms arranged on both sides of said cassette holder holding member, said pair of arm members being linked to a rotary shaft which is driven in synchronization by the rotary driving force transmitted by said driving motor via said gear train. 
     
     
       22. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 21, further comprising: a main chassis mounted on said fixed chasis for supporting said rotary drum and said slide chassis;   wherein said cassette loading mechanism mounted on said main chassis is generally rectangular in shape, said rotary drum and said driving motor being situated on one side of said cassette loading mechanism and said cassette holder holding member on a side opposite to said one side.   
     
     
       23. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 22, further comprising: a slide chassis driving motor for driving said slide chassis, said slide chassis driving motor being situated at a position opposite to said arm member driving motor with said rotary drum arranged therebetween.   
     
     
       24. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said cassette loading mechanism is generally cubic in construction, said slide chassis driving motor is provided on said fixed chassis, and said arm member driving motor is provided on an upper portion of a side wall of said cassette holder holding member.